With Tolerance Comes Trouble
Ever since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, thousands of fleeing Syrians have searched for asylum and safety. The issue with migrants and refugees is a common one when it comes to international relations, and with this topic’s connection to the Syrian conflict, one can delve very deeply into all aspects of the issue and it’s development. Syrian movement into Germany began with the general migration into Europe; however, the numbers of people entering the nation have escalated, causing controversy to heighten as well.
During the European migrant crisis of 2014-2015, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees from the Syrian Civil War entered Germany to seek refugee status. The migration was enhanced when Chancellor Werner Faymann of Austria and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany agreed on allowing migrants to cross the border from Hungary into Austria and onwards to Germany. There are about 360,000 Syrians currently residing in Germany as of October 2015. Germany has announced that they will let in up to 800,000 refugees, a number dramatically higher than any other European nation. However, a recent leak has noted that the number might be larger than expected–a possible 1.5 million Syrian refugees. The conflict has put Merkel under increasing pressure, as the major influx in refugees could have drastic effects on Germany’s society. Thousands of citizens have already begun protesting; they even took to celebrating when a refugee center burned to the ground. Merkel remains determined to keep the country’s openness alive. Yet, issues have also been raised about the future of the refugees once the civil war ends. Merkel has stated that the refugees must return to Syria once the war is over. This creates even more controversy. Both Merkel’s political career and Germany’s future are on the line as the issue grows larger and more complex with each passing day.
Refugees arrive at the train station in Saalfeld, central Germany, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. Hundreds of refugees arrived in a train from Munich to be transported by busses to an accomodation centre.
(AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Many problems arise with the issue of Syrian migrants in relation to the European Union. There exist varying degrees to how many refugees each country will let seek asylum inside its borders. Germany is the most generous and open nation by far, but with tolerance also comes complications. It is difficult to conclude that Germany can even handle this big of a refugee influx into their nation. Not only will it cause controversy within the native population, as it has already done, but it also has the power to collapse many other aspects of the country itself. Food and shelter supplies are already diminishing faster than expected, not to mention funds as well. Many refugees will also face the possibility of mass discrimination, as there are certainly a large number of German citizens who do not support the country’s welcoming attitude. As for politics, Merkel is putting her whole career on the line when it comes to her decisions regarding Syrian migrants. She is losing support from the German people and her rash decisions also put the country’s future in question.
Overall, the Syrian Civil War has led to numerous different effectual issues, one being the massive migration of Syrian civilians out of the country. Germany is currently the most open nation in the European Union with the amount of refugees they are accepting into their country. However, this has also created its own problems for Angela Merkel and the nation itself. In order to alleviate this conflict, Germany has some serious decisions to make. If the country decides to keep its borders open, a change is needed with the way they are housing these refugees and responding to reactions of the citizens. It is also crucial for any other European nation to extend their help as well, for Germany cannot bear the burden all by itself.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/germanys-merkel-expects-syrian-refugees-to-return-home-after-war-1454184419
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/27/germany-has-a-new-plan-for-syrian-refugees-give-them-jobs-not-sanctuary/
http://www.ibtimes.com/whats-life-syrian-refugees-germany-2083610
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/10/22/nothing-can-take-down-angela-merkel-except-800000-refugees-germany-cdu-pegida/
